High functional water containing titanium and method and apparatus for producing the same

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a method and apparatus for manufacturing titanium-dissolved water with molten titanium dissolved therein, the molten titanium being titanium metal melted by the combustion gas resulting from the combustion of a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen in high-pressure water, as well as the resultant titanium-dissolved water and health articles, medical articles and cosmetics utilizing the physiologically activating effect of the high-function water containing titanium.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to high-function water with molten titaniumdissolved therein and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the same.

The invention also relates to health articles, medical articles orcosmetics that employ the aforementioned high-function water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Compared to such metals as iron, copper or aluminum, titanium is arelatively newly discovered metallic material. The physical propertiesof titanium—namely its low weight and high strength, the latter of whichis exhibited even at high temperatures—have found use in many fields. Inthe industrial sector, titanium is used in jet engine in the aeronauticsand space industry, and in the tubing and tube sheets in the heatexchangers of nuclear and thermal power generators in the energyindustry. Titanium is also used in eyeglass frames, golf club heads andother articles of everyday life. The uses for titanium are expandingcontinually.

The use of titanium metal in everyday articles, health and medicalarticles and cosmetics is relatively well known. Examples includebarber's scissors with titanium film coatings (Japanese PatentApplication Laid-open No. 62-268584), the utilization of far-infraredrays through molten titanium metal (Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open Nos. 61-59147, 1-155803 and 3-112849), bedding (JapanesePatent Application Laid-open No. 8-322695), cooking utensils (JapanesePatent Application Laid-open No. 9-140593), eye masks (Japanese PatentApplication Laid-open No. 10-71168), health maintenance devices(Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 11-285541 and 11-285543),health bands (Registered Japanese Utility Model No. 3045835) and healthslippers (Registered Japanese Utility Model No. 3061466).

On the other hand, few techniques are known with regard to the use oftitanium metal in the manufacture of functional water and the like. Onerare example is a drinking-water production system (Japanese PatentApplication Laid-open No. 50-40779) that utilizes electro-osmosis withtitanium metal used in a negative electrode.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

While the prospects are very promising for the expanded use of titaniumin the fields of physiologically activating materials, food materials,medical articles or the like, the true value of this material has notbeen fully determined.

This invention aims especially at introducing the apparently infiniteutility of titanium to the fields of physiologically activatingmaterials and health/medical articles.

The purpose of this invention is to provide high-function watercontaining molten titanium in a dissolved state, where titanium metal ismelted by the combustion gas of hydrogen and oxygen in high-pressurewater.

Another purpose of this invention is to employ high-function wateroffering the high physiologically activating function, as obtained inthis invention, in health articles, medical articles or cosmetics.

Yet another purpose of this invention is to provide an efficient methodand apparatus for the manufacture of high-function water containingmolten titanium that would contribute to health and medical care forpurposes of physiological activation.

In this invention, the water containing a little molten titanium metalin a dissolved state will hereinafter be referred to as“titanium-dissolved water.”

The first characteristic of this invention is high-function water inwhich molten titanium is dissolved in water.

The second characteristic of this invention is health articles, medicalarticles or cosmetics whose main ingredient is the aforementionedhigh-function water.

The third characteristic of this invention is a method of manufacturinghigh-function water with molten titanium dissolved therein, by burning amixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen in high-pressure water and meltingtitanium metal in the resultant combustion gas.

The fourth characteristic of this invention is an apparatus formanufacturing high-function water with molten titanium dissolvedtherein, which is constituted by a pressure-resistant vessel comprisinga high-pressure water-containment tank, an injection nozzle for a mixedgas of oxygen and hydrogen, a titanium metal rod, an ignition apparatusand a combustion chamber.

The fifth characteristic of this invention is an apparatus formanufacturing high-function water with molten titanium dissolved thereinas described under the fourth characteristic, wherein awater-electrolysis apparatus is added for generating a mixed gas ofoxygen and hydrogen.

Titanium particulates or titanium oxide in a simple water dispersion ormixture will precipitate and separate out in a short period of time. Themost important characteristic of the titanium-dissolved water obtainedin this invention is that titanium, melted by combustion heat, does notprecipitate or otherwise separate out but stays in a dissolved state inthe water over an extended period of time. The correlative reactionbetween the water molecules and molten titanium in thetitanium-dissolved water of this invention has an unexpectedlypronounced effect of turning the water into high-function water.

The high-function, titanium-dissolved water of this invention may beutilized in health articles such as a cream for increased motorfunction, medical articles such as antibacterial agents, and cosmeticssuch as UV blocking creams.

The titanium-dissolved water of this invention has the appropriate usageat the present, as shown in the foregoing, but should also convincinglybecome a revolutionary physiologically activating material that wouldcapably meet the demands of the recent trend toward morehealth-conscious living. While the mechanism of water with moltentitanium dissolved therein for being an effective physiologicalactivator is unknown, the inventors of this invention are nowassiduously investigating the chemical cause.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart for manufacturing the titanium-dissolved water ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of an apparatus for manufacturing thetitanium-dissolved water of this invention.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SYMBOLS

2: Pressure-resistant vessel for manufacturing titanium water

3: Electrolysis apparatus/raw-gas generating apparatus

5: High-pressure water-containment tank

6: Combustion chamber

7: Pressure-regulating valve

8: Titanium water outlet

9: High-pressure water

10: Titanium metal rod

11: Ignition apparatus

12: Molten titanium metal

13: Supply cylinder

14: Mixed-gas injection nozzle

16: Hydrogen supply line

17: Oxygen supply line

18: Electrode

18′: Electrode

19: Partition plate

20: Water.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The titanium-dissolved water obtained in this invention is a new articlethat has not previously been manufactured. This invention also disclosesa new method and apparatus for the manufacture of water containingmolten titanium in a dissolved state, where titanium is melted by thecombustion heat of oxygen and hydrogen, not by the generally used meansof melting metals by heat, arc discharge or laser irradiation.

To elaborate, the inventors examined the efficient and economicalmanufacture of titanium-dissolved water and the provision oftitanium-dissolved water for purposes of physiological activation. Theexamination resulted in a method of containing molten titanium in adissolved state by burning hydrogen and oxygen and then heating a puretitanium metal rod inserted into the combustion atmosphere. The methodincludes an innovation of burning hydrogen and oxygen in high-pressurewater so as not to generate substances other than water and titaniummetal.

The manufacturing method under this invention requires the control ofthe amounts of hydrogen and oxygen to be burned, the reaction pressureand the amount of titanium metal supplied. The water manufactured in theaforementioned manufacturing method also contains some amount oftitanium-oxide particulate, in addition to the dissolved molten titaniummetal, which would require a filtration system as necessary.

An explanation, with reference to figures, follows on a method ofmanufacturing the titanium-dissolved water with titanium metal dissolvedin high-pressure water, as shown previously, as well as an apparatus forcarrying out the same.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart for manufacturing the titanium-dissolved water ofthis invention. FIG. 2 shows an apparatus for manufacturing thetitanium-dissolved water of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, an apparatus for manufacturing thetitanium-dissolved water of this invention is constituted by apressure-resistant vessel 2 for manufacturing water with molten titaniumdissolved therein, an electrolysis apparatus/raw-gas generatingapparatus 3 and a filtration system (not shown) for thetitanium-dissolved water.

The basic design of the pressure-resistant vessel 2 of this invention isan apparatus for manufacturing titanium-dissolved water with titaniummetal dissolved therein, which is comprised of a high-pressurewater-containment tank 5, an injection nozzle 14 for a mixed gas ofoxygen and hydrogen, a combustion chamber 6, and a titanium metal rod10. The water-electrolysis apparatus 3 to supply hydrogen and oxygen asraw materials, and a filtration system for the producedtitanium-dissolved water, are added as adjuncts.

The pressure-resistant vessel 2 of this invention is constituted by thehigh-pressure water-containment tank 5 made of metal, preferably steel.The mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, which is generated by theelectrolysis apparatus 3 and supplied through a hydrogen supply line 16and an oxygen supply line 17, is injected under high pressure into thecombustion chamber 6 in the high-pressure water-containment tank 5. Thetitanium metal rod 10 is gradually fed by a supply cylinder 13 into theinterior of the combustion chamber 6 in keeping with the burned amount.An ignition apparatus 11 ignites the mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen,and molten titanium metal is discharged into high-pressure water 9. Thehigh-pressure water 9 containing the molten titanium is then takenoutside through an outlet 8 at the bottom of the high-pressurewater-containment tank, and is in turn filtered through a filtrationsystem (not shown) as necessary.

While the raw-gas generating apparatus 3 may be substituted byhigh-pressure cylinders storing hydrogen and oxygen, the electrolysis ofwater in this invention has the advantages of supplying totally pureoxygen and hydrogen and facilitating the efficient supply of these rawgases as fuels.

In an example of generating hydrogen and oxygen as raw materials for themanufacture of water through the electrolysis of water 20 in the raw-gasgenerating apparatus 3, 18 and 18′ are the cathode plate and anodeplate, respectively. As mentioned in the foregoing, hydrogen and oxygenmay well be supplied directly from the respective storage cylindersthereof to the high-pressure water-containment tank 5.

Hydrogen and oxygen, generated by electrolysis and supplied through thehydrogen supply line 16 and the oxygen supply line 17, are injected viaa pump into the combustion chamber 6 through the nozzle 14 for completecombustion, whereupon the complete combustion of extremely hotwater-vapor gas takes place. The pure titanium metal rod 10 is insertedinto the combustion gas for heating and combustion. The titanium metalrod is inserted by the cylinder 13 by a fixed amount as required by theamount of combustion. The mixing ratio of hydrogen and oxygen forcombustion must be strictly maintained at 2:1. The internal pressure ofthe high-pressure water-containment tank must also be controlled throughinstallation of a pressure-regulating valve 7.

As molten titanium metal 12, heated to a high temperature and burned inthe combustion chamber 6, is discharged from the combustion chamber 6into the high-pressure water 9, part of the titanium is assumed to forma crystalline structure.

The creation of molten titanium in such a state in water leaves highlyhydrophobic molten titanium in a stably dissolved state in the water,which will not precipitate even if a flocculating agent is added.

With the manufacturing method of this invention, an example ofrecommended conditions for the manufacture of titanium-dissolved wateron a one-ton scale would be a mixed gas pressure of approximately 3.5atmospheres and mixed-gas injection rate of approximately four to sixliters per second into the high-pressure water-containment tank, wherethe water is under a pressure of approximately 1.5 to 2.5 atmospheres.Excessive gas pressure may risk damaging the structure of the apparatus.On the other hand, insufficient pressure will lower the molten titaniumproduction as the gas is allowed to escape out of the combustion chamberand cause the heated, molten titanium metal to disperse, wrapped inbubbles, to the surface of the water.

To operate the apparatus, inject hydrogen and oxygen under high pressurevia a pump into the high-pressure water-containment tank 5 through thenozzle 14. Ignite the gas by means of the ignition apparatus 11 to setup the combustion of extremely hot water-vapor gas. Insert the puretitanium metal rod 10 into the combustion gas and burn it.

It is essential to burn hydrogen and oxygen in water so as not togenerate substances other than water and molten titanium metal in theapparatus. Hydrogen and oxygen must be burned in water under highpressure to prevent the introduction of impurities. Furthermore, thetitanium metal rod must be inserted in an area where the mixed gas wouldbe burnt completely and converted into extremely hot water-vapor gas.

Another characteristic of this invention is to appropriately refine thetitanium-dissolved water with molten titanium dissolved therein, asmanufactured in the foregoing, and use it as a raw material for healtharticles, cosmetics, foodstuffs, drugs, quasi-drugs and the like. Thewater produced contains some amount of titanium-oxide particulate andtherefore requires filtration and refinement as necessary.

The preferred method of filtration is the use of the filtration systemexplained below, instead of ion exchange or reverse-osmotic membrane, toprevent the unnecessary elimination of the produced molten titanium andallow the production of water suitable for applications. That is, theuse of a hollow-fiber membrane as a filter is preferable, and it isdesirable with respect to the characteristics of the titanium-dissolvedwater and to the filter life if the high-pressure water discharged fromthe high-pressure water-containment tank is passed through sequentialfilters. The foregoing method enables the manufacture of drinking waterthat meets the food sanitation, cosmetics and drug standards.

When the inventors studied the content of the titanium-dissolved waterobtained in this invention, it was confirmed that an extreme traceamount of molten titanium is contained in the high-pressure water.

The result of an analysis of the titanium-dissolved water obtained inthis invention is shown below.

ASSAY REPORT (No. 200031801-006, Apr. 6, 2000)

-   -   Client Name: Phild Co., Ltd.    -   Specimen: TITANIUM-CONTAINING PURIFIED WATER FILTER 0.5    -   Additional Remarks: ****    -   By Japan Food Research Laboratories (Tokyo H.Q.: 52-1,        Motoyoyogi-machi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0062; Osaka Branch: 3-1,        Toyotsu-cho, Suita-shi, Osaka 564-0081; Nagoya Branch: 5-13,        Ohsu 4-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya 450-0011; Kyushu Branch: 1-12,        Shimogofuku-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 812-0034; Tama Research        Laboratory: 11-10, Nagayama 8-chome, Tama-shi, Tokyo 206-0025)    -   The followings are analysis results for the above-identified        specimen that was submitted to the laboratory on Mar. 31, 2000.

Assay Item Results Detection Limit Notes Analysis Method Titanium 0.72mg/L ICP Luminescence Analysis Method(This experiment was conducted after excluding precipitations.)

The following is a specific explanation of an embodiment of thisinvention using an example. However, the invention is not limited to theexample provided.

[Embodiment]

FIG. 2 shows a representative embodiment of an apparatus under thisinvention for manufacturing titanium-dissolved water with titanium metaldissolved therein, where titanium metal is melted by water moleculesunder water. The apparatus comprises a high-pressure water-containmenttank 5, an injection nozzle for a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen 14and a titanium metal rod 10.

The high-pressure water-containment tank 5 is a pressure-resistant tank,made of metal, that can withstand extremely high pressure, and wherein amixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, supplied through a hydrogen supplyline 16 and an oxygen supply line 17, is injected through the injectionnozzle 14 into a combustion chamber 6, and the titanium metal rod 10 isfed into the combustion chamber by a cylinder 13. The internal pressureof the high-pressure water-containment tank 5 must be controlled by apressure-regulating valve 7. An ignition apparatus 11 ignites a mixedgas, and molten titanium 12 is discharged into high-pressure water. Thetitanium-dissolved water with titanium metal dissolved therein is takenoutside through an outlet 8.

To operate the apparatus, as mentioned in the foregoing, supply hydrogenand oxygen into the high-pressure water-containment tank 5 under highpressure and inject the mixed gas through the nozzle 14. Ignite themixed gas by means of the ignition apparatus 11 to burn the gascompletely in order to set up the complete combustion of extremely hotwater-vapor gas. Insert the pure titanium metal rod 10 into thecombustion gas and burn it. It is assumed that when the molten titanium12, heated to a high temperature in the nozzle, is discharged into thehigh-pressure water, part of the titanium metal forms a crystallinestructure, and that the titanium atoms realign themselves to form a nearsphere, thereby achieving a stable state in terms of energy.

The titanium-dissolved water thus produced has molten titanium dissolvedin the water without the aid of an activator. The producedtitanium-dissolved water is discharged from the outlet and sent to afiltering system as necessary. The filtering system sequentiallycomprises 50-, 25-, 3-, 0.5- and 0.1-micron filters to ultimately yieldtitanium-dissolved water containing an extreme trace amount of moltentitanium metal.

Embodying Conditions (Example)

Manufacturing tank internal pressure: 2 atmospheres

Mixed gas: 5 liters/sec. (3.5 atmospheres)

Titanium metal supply amount: 0.5 kg/2 hours

Produced titanium-dissolved water: 1,000 kg.

The foregoing conditions yielded titanium-dissolved water with titaniummetal dissolved therein.

The produced titanium-dissolved water is filtered (sequentially througha 50-, 25-, 3-, 0.5 and 0.1-micron hollow-fiber membranes) as necessary.

Test of the Use of High-Function Water

The titanium-dissolved water, which is water with titanium dissolvedtherein, was topically applied or sprayed on a group of ten male andfemale monitors to test for the effect and efficacy of the water on thepromotion of health and its physiologically activating capabilities.

Testing Conditions and Monitoring Results

-   1. Total number of monitors: 10 men and women (in non-regular trial    usage)-   2. Examples of efficacy    -   The body felt light: 5 persons    -   Tiredness was reduced: 8 persons    -   Recovery from tiredness was fast: 7 persons    -   Cold symptoms improved significantly: 1 person    -   Motor ability improved (bending forward, broad jump, etc.): 6        persons    -   The skin became smooth: 7 persons    -   Stiff shoulders improved significantly: 7 persons    -   Recovered from tired eyes: 3 persons    -   Wounds healed quickly: 1 person.        Evaluation of Test Results

The frequent occurrence of recoveries from tiredness, improved motorfunction, recoveries from stiff shoulders, smoother skin and the likeamong the monitors that had topically applied or sprayed thetitanium-dissolved water on their bodies revealed that thetitanium-dissolved water of this invention exhibits a pronounced effectas a raw material for health articles, medical articles or cosmetics.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention provides a new titanium-dissolved water and a method andapparatus for manufacturing the same, which enables the efficientmanufacture of water containing molten titanium in a dissolved state andhaving a physiologically activating function. The monitoring testsrevealed that the titanium-dissolved water obtained is capable of beingutilized in health articles, medical articles and cosmetics.Additionally, the results of a drinking test especially promise apotentially pronounced effect as health water.

1. Water in which molten titanium is dissolved in water.
 2. A topicalcream or liquid comprising the water as described in claim
 1. 3. Amethod of manufacturing water with molten titanium dissolved therein, byburning a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen in high-pressure water andmelting titanium metal in the combustion gas resulting from the step ofburning the mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen.
 4. An apparatus formanufacturing water with molten titanium dissolved therein, comprising ahigh-pressure water-containment tank, an injection nozzle for a mixedgas of oxygen and hydrogen, a titanium metal rod, an ignition apparatusand a combustion chamber.
 5. The apparatus for manufacturing water asdescribed in claim 4, further comprising a water-electrolysis apparatusfor generating the mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen, disposed upstreamof the injection nozzle.